EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticide fails as Britain abstains

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Ian Keith joins the protest outside the European Parliament in BrusselsReuters

Oliver Moody

Last updated at 12:01AM, March 16 2013

The chemical companies behind pesticides that have allegedly played a role in
killing Britain’s bees celebrated yesterday after the EU failed to ban the
chemicals. A vote on severe curbs on neonicotinoids broke down in stalemate,
with the UK and several other major players, thought to include Germany,
abstaining.

Campaigners against the pesticides accused the Government of a “cop-out” and
rolling over before the chemical industry. Andrew Pendleton, head of
campaigns for Friends of the Earth, compared Britain’s “dithering” to its
delay in banning imports at the start of the ash dieback crisis.